You Heard It Here First: 7 Trends From Paris That Will Take Over in 2022

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(Image credit: Givenchy; Coperni; Lanvin)

The last stop of fashion's world tour, Paris dazzled us once again with a packed roster of runway shows and presentations. As a destination that's long been home to a number of storied fashion houses and big-name designers, the City of Lights is the place to go when you want to witness Fashion with a capital F. 

After a year of virtual presentations and digital lookbooks, designers unleashed their latest collections with a mountain of showstopping moments: The Simpsons made an appearance at Balenciaga; Miu Miu showed us the real meaning of micro-mini; Cardi B turned out the streets of Paris in a plethora of looks. But in between the viral moments were a lot of great clothes and accessories—so good our eyes are still digesting.

With heavy hitters such as Valentino, Givenchy, and Dries Van Noten in the fashion week lineup, you know you're in store for a trend forecast of the ages. After analyzing the collections, we've narrowed it down to the seven trends that were simply too dominant to ignore, ranging from shimmering sequins to rebellious takes on the preppy aesthetic and more. Take note because these will be in your face all 2022.

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(Image credit: Miu Miu; Raf Simons; Lacoste)

We've talked a lot about the preppy fashion revival that fashion insiders can't seem to get enough of, and it's not slowing down in 2022. Actually, it's picking up even more steam. This time around, preppy dress codes have been redefined and reimagined—and the back-to-school uniform is different from what you might remember. Cable-knit sweaters with hot pants? Why not? Micro low-rise pleated skirts and a bare midriff? Miu Miu approves with one of the most buzzed-about looks from Paris Fashion Week. This is a trend you'll want to keep an eye on.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Miu Miu)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Raf Simons)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Lacoste)

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(Image credit: Dior; Nina Ricci; Courrèges)

Suits (of all varieties) tend to shine during fashion week, but there's another coordinated pairing that's steadily creeping up. Meet the new power combo. It borrows the matching element of a suit but in a more relaxed way. The key look seems to be a cropped top, pants or a skirt, and a jacket, all in the same bold color or pattern. Dior, Nina Ricci, Courrèges, and more included monochromatic three-piece sets down their runways over the past week, which means it's only a matter of time before it's all over your feed.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Dior)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Courrèges)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Nina Ricci)

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(Image credit: Loewe; Saint Laurent; Chanel)

Brands are on board with maxi silhouettes for S/S 22, and we can't get enough. Copy Saint Laurent and add a vest top to a column skirt for a cool spin on suiting, or mirror Loewe and opt for a sleek maxi dress for a simple, yet showstopping, look. However you slice it, there's no doubt that maxi skirts and dresses are about to be the next fashion-insider basics to have in your closet.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Loewe)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Saint Laurent)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Chanel)

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(Image credit: Stella McCartney; Lanvin; Saint Laurent)

Each season, there's usually one trend that throws all of us for a loop, and for S/S 22, that honor goes to the catsuit. It's not something we exactly saw coming, but the skin-tight relative of the jumpsuit was everywhere in Paris. Almost half of Anthony Vaccarello's Saint Laurent collection displayed a catsuit of some sort, from cutout-riddled suits to halter-neck versions. Stella McCartney also incorporated skin-baring cutouts in her seafoam-green interpretation of the catsuit—complete with an army-green maxi coat. While this trend may not be for the sartorially timid, it's definitely a look that kept our attention all fashion week.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Stella McCartney)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Lanvin)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Valentino)

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(Image credit: Coperni; Ludovic de Saint Sernin; Ottolinger)

"Naked" fashion seems to get rethought by brands each season, and the S/S 22 collections are no exception. This time around, we're seeing barely there sheer pieces with exposed underwear, inventive cutouts, bare midriffs, and cool new takes on strappy "floss" pieces. When it comes to naked fashion, we thought we'd seen it all, but it looks like designers are only getting started.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Coperni)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Ludovic de Saint Sernin)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Ottolinger)

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(Image credit: Balenciaga; Valentino; Givenchy)

Designers have reached into their tool kits of sparkly things to give us a season full of shimmering, brilliant looks���literally. Sequin has a reputation for erring on the side of prom-queen cheesiness, but Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Valentino, among others, made a case for its importance as a facet of high fashion. To try this out in real life, stick with minimal accessories when styling your sequin piece. The point is to let it speak for itself. 

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(Image credit: Imaxtree/Balenciaga)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Givenchy)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Valentino)

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(Image credit: Loewe; Louis Vuitton; Acne Studios)

One area where designers really put their foot on the creative pedal? Sculptural silhouettes. Loewe, Louis Vuitton, ACNE Studios, and other designers showcased cool, voluminous skirts and dresses that ranged from 19th-century shapes to architectural and futuristic designs. Luckily, there are already plenty of wearable versions on the market.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Loewe)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Acne Studios)

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Next: The Verdict Is In: These Are the 5 Most Important Trends From Milan Fashion Week

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.

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